Portable space flood alarm



G- DAVID PORTABLE SPACE FLOOD ALARM March 21, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1964 FIE.3.

March 21, 1.967 G. DAVID 3,310,195-

1 PORTABLE SPACE FLOOD ALARM Filed July 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 21, 1967 G. DAVl'D PORTABLE SPACE FLOOD ALARM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 'July 20, 1964 G. DAVID March 21, 1967 PORTABLE SPACE FLOOD ALARM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 20, 1964 United States Patent *Ofiice 3,319,795 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,310,795 PORTABLE SPACE FLOOD ALARM George David, 1447 W. Theme, Chicago, Ill. 60626 Filed July 20, 1964, Ser. No. 383,780 14 Claims. (Cl. 340--244) This invention relates to a small, portable lightweight flood warning device, which may also be used to control power to machinery or the like in the space where the device is being employed.

In the past, sump pumps and the like have been employed to remove water from household basements, utility rooms, and business places in an effort to prevent damage to goods or equipment of any nature that is subject to harm by rising water. Frequently, sump pumps become inoperative for one reason or another, for example because of debris that causes the float in the sump to become inoperative, and then there are the situations where water backs up from a sewer or the like due to heavy rains, which gives rise to potential damages.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a portable flood warning device that may be placed in machine rooms, utility rooms, basements, etc. as desired. Its portability makes it handy for any room that is subject to rising water that may be injurious not only to equipment or goods therein, but to the health and welfare of the public. The device of this invention warns the occupants of the room or building or in a further remote place, of the danger of rising water before any equipment or goods is submerged in a flood, "thereby saving thousands of dollars in furniture and machine and goods damaged besides eliminating unhealthy sewer odors and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the appended claims in conjunction with the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, and the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially diagrammatic of one embodiment of this invention;

FIGURES 2-4 are perspective views of respective elements of the FIGURE 1 embodiment;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational side view of the assembly of the FIGURES 24 elements for use in the FIGURE 1 embodiment;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially diagrammatic of a second embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially diagrammatic of a third embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially diagrammatic of a fourth embodiment of this invention.

In FIGURE 1, the warning device mainly consists of a tripod type stand 10 made of light gauge metal, though it may be made of plastic if desired. The three legs 12, 14 and 16 are preferably of angle steel or V-shaped, and each has secured to its lower end a rubber suction cup 18. With such suction cups, the tripod stand may be firmly held to the floor or ground as the case may be.

In its upper portion, tripod 10 includes a waterproof compartment 20 in which the various electrical and mechanical controls and the'like are disposed. At its upper end, the tripod has a handle 22 by which it may be carried from place to place, with ease.

Any sort of alarm may be employed inside compartment 20, for example the bell type alarm 24 illustrated. This bell, as is conventional, is operative on low voltage, for example 6 or 12 volts, and therefore the pair of lines 26 is caused to carry such low voltage. In the present embodiment, this low voltage is obtained by converting a relatively high voltage by transformer 28 inside the waterproof compartment. The input to this transformer is normally 115 volts, and is obtainable via a regular threewire household circuit by male plug 30 and cord 32, which passes through a nipple 34 and into transformer 28.

One of the low voltage lines is broken by a switch 36, which includes an insulated terminal bar 38 and contact blades 40 and 42. The upper contact blade 40 extends inwardly and carries on its outer end an insulated block 44, which is operated by a pivoted contact actuator plate 46. Plate 46 is pivoted at a shaft 48 which is secured on a stationary bracket 50. This bracket, in turn, is secured by screws 52 which pass through respective slots in the bracket, making the bracket thereby vertically adjustable. Plate 46 is transversely held in place by tWo C-washers or split rings 56 secured in grooves around shaft 48 on opposite sides of the plate. On its right hand end, actuator plate 46 is cut away to form a recess 54 which receives insulated block 44, with the recess being taller than the block. Opposite sides of the recess pivot against the block to cause the upper contact blade 40 to move against and away from the lower contact blade 42. Plate 46 is limited in its clockwise and counter-clockwise movements by its right angle tabs 50a and 50b.

At its left-hand end, actuator plate 46 is welded or otherwise secured, as at point 58, to an L-shaped extended bracket 60 that has an arm 68. The outer end of this arm has an aperture 62 through which passes a float rod 64. Stops or limits 66 are adjustably or non-adjustably, as desired, secured to float rod 64 to determine the upward and downward limits of movement of the arm 68 of bracket 60. Float rod 64 extends downward through two eyelets 70, which are threaded or otherwise secured into leg 12, to a float 72. This float is of cork or any desired buoyant material, and its lower side is positioned adjacent the level of the floor close enough to effect the desired sensitivity required. With the adjustable controls for operating the switch, it is possible to sense a mere wetting of a floor whereby /32 inch of Water will operate the alarm. Besides the adjustability possible by stops 66 on the float rod 64, bracket 50 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly to regulate the amount of movement necessary to close or open switch 36. When switch 36 closes, the electrical circuit to bell 24 is completed, thereby energizing the bell and sounding an alarm, which is audible at a considerable distance from the tripod.

As indicated by terminals 74 and lines 76, closure of 1 the switch may be effective to cause any desired external circuit to be operated also, as more fully explained in other embodiments of this invention.

In FIGURE 6 an arrangement similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 is illustrated, but with use of a different type switch and sensing means. Switch 36a in FIGURE 6 is a diaphragm type of air switch that is actuated from a normal off position to an on position by the rising of water from the floor or ground into an extruded rigid plastic tube 78. The switch arm is tripped by the pressure dilferentialeifected by the rising water. This closes the circuit to the internal alarm 24 as well as to external circuit including lines 76. These lines may extend to a remote warning light 78 (FIGURE 7) and to a remote warning bell 80. Additionally, lines 76 may connect to a relay 82 for connecting or disconnecting any other desired circuit through its switch arm 84.

Still another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 7. Again, the main difference in this em- .bodiment and those in FIGURES 1 and 6 is the type of and microswitch 36b will be turned on as soon as the lower stop 66 contacts lever arm 86 and pivots it upwardly an amount sufficient to make the switch close the circuit to the various alarms to sound the desired warning.

In FIGURE 8 the embodiment is completely self-contained in that it employs an internal battery 88 instead of requiring an external A.C. source as in the previous embodiments. Additionally, switch 36c is of a type different from the previous embodiments. It is a mercury switch having a mercury bulb 90 mounted to pivot about axis 92 on a stationary bracket 94 secured by screws 93 which pass through respective slots in the bracket, making the bracket thereby vertically adjustable. Connected to move up and down with float rod 64, in accordance with limit stops 66, is a lever 96, which causes the mercury bulb to pivot accordingly about axis 92 thereby making and breaking the circuit to the bell 24.

While the construction of the tripod structure in each of the foregoing embodiments may be of metal or plastic, the latter is preferably from the standpoint of Weight and also because of its insulative characteristics. It should be noted than an arrangement according to this invention has many further advantages including the fact that it is completely portable and self-supportable. The controls are fully enclosed and only need to be plugged into a conventional outlet, or in the case of the battery operated equipment, not even that is required. When there is no rising water to actuate the alarm, the internal switch is then oft, meaning that the equipment consumes no power except when an alarm condition exists.

The flood section is completely free of electrical wires, and therefore it requires no waterproofing. Yet, it is sensitive enough to sense water of inch or more, thereby requiring no sump pit or the like and obviating clog that can occur with sump pumps. For places where equipment, furniture, appliances, motors, controls, storage, etc., are manufactured, used and/ or set on low levels, the equipment according to this invention finds a special use, as in home basements and utility rooms, since it is possible to adjust the sensitivity to such a close level. The equipment is preferably small in height, with an overall height of approximately 18 inches, for example. This means that the equipment is extremely small, yet due to the suction cup legs, it cannot be easily washed away by rising water. No Watchman is needed for the equipment, because it is reliable in operation, and will give a continuous alarm until it is disconnected or otherwise turned off, for example because of removal of the rising water.

.It is quite inexpensive to manufacture because parts are few in number and relatively little labor is required.

It is therefore apparent that this invention has provided for the objects and advantages herein set forth. Still further objects and advantages, and even other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. However, it is to be appreciated that this disclosure is intended as exemplary and not limitative, the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A small, portable, lightweight flood warning device for use in any desired ground or floor area where rising water may be a problem, comprising:

'a tripod having a handle and an enclosed waterproof compartment elevated by three legs having respective suction means for securing the tripod to said .area,

sensing means positioned adjacent the level of said area for sensing any water rising thereon and having a connection means extending upwardly into said compartment to convey thereinto any rising movement of i the sensing means, an alarm in and sensible outside of said compartment, a pair of lines in said compartment for supplying a relatively low voltage to said alarm,

normally open switch means in one of said lines in said compartment, and

means operatively connected between said connection means and switch means for causing the switch means to close and operate said alarm upon a predetermined amount of said rising movement of said sensing means.

2. A flood warning device as in claim 1 wherein said sensing and connection means are respectively a float and a float rod, said rod being guided in its vertical movement by means secured to said tripod.

3. A flood warning device as in claim 2 wherein the said means that is operatively connected between the connection and switch means to operate the latter includes an arm having an aperture near one end through which said float rod extends inside said compartment, and means secured to said rod on opposite sides of said arm for determining the extent of movement of said arm when said float and rod move.

4. A flood warning device as in claim 3 wherein said switch means is of the microswitch type with said arm pivotal movement and connected to said arm to be operated thereby.

6. A flood warning device as in claim 3 wherein said switch means includes two contact blades one of which is extended and carries an insulated block, said means for causing the switch means to close further including a stationary bracket in said compartment adjustable in vertical position, a contact actuator plate pivotally mounted on said bracket, said arm being secured to one end of said plate, the other end being recessed with said insulated block being disposed in said recess, opposite sides of said recess being operative on said block to cause the said one contact blade to move toward and away from the other to effect opening and closing of the switch in conformance with movement of said arm as operatedby said float rod.

7. A flood warning device as in claim 5 including a battery inside said compartment for providing the said low voltage of said lines.

8. A flood warning device as in claim 1 including means in said compartment for transforming a relatively high voltage from an external source to said relatively low voltage.

9. A flood warning device as in claim 1 including a battery inside said compartment for supplying said low voltage.

10. A flood warning device as in claim 1 and further including means for controlling power to machinery or the like setting on said floor and liable to be damaged by rising water.

11. A flood warning device as in claim 1 wherein said tripod is mostly of plastic structure.

12. A flood warning device as in claim 1 wherein said tripod is mostly of light gauge metal construction.

13. A flood warning device as in claim 1 wherein said switch means is a diaphragm type of air switch and said sensing and connection means includes a rigid tube having its lower end adjacent the level of the floor as aforesaid, whereby rising water may enter the tube and close the switch due to pressure differential.

14. A small, portable, lightweight flood warning device for use in any desired ground or floor area where rising water may be a problem, comprising:

a stand having a handle and an enclosed waterproof compartment elevated by several legs having respective suction means for securing the stand to said area,

sensing means positioned adjacent the level of said area for sensing any water rising thereon and having a connection means extending upwardly into said compartment to convey thereinto any rising movement of the sensing means,

an alarm in and sensible outside of said compartment,

a pair of lines in said compartment for supplying a relatively low voltage to said alarm,

normally open switch means in one of said lines in said compartment, and

means operatively connected between said connection means and switch means for causing the switch means to close and operate said alarm upon a predetermined amount of said rising movement of said sensing means.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS Fletcher. Cogan. Jaeger.

, Wilson.

Crain.

NEIL C. R-EAD, Primary Examiner. D. -MYER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SMALL, PORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT FLOOD WARNING DEVICE FOR USE IN ANY DESIRED GROUND OR FLOOR AREA WHERE RISING WATER MAY BE A PROBLEM, COMPRISING: A TRIPOD HAVING A HANDLE AND AN ENCLOSED WATERPROOF COMPARTMENT ELEVATED BY THREE LEGS HAVING RESPECTIVE SUCTION MEANS FOR SECURING THE TRIPOD TO SAID AREA, SENSING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE LEVEL OF SAID AREA FOR SENSING ANY WATER RISING THEREON AND HAVING A CONNECTION MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY INTO SAID COMPARTMENT TO CONVEY THEREINTO ANY RISING MOVEMENT OF THE SENSING MEANS, AN ALARM IN AND SENSIBLE OUTSIDE OF SAID COMPARTMENT, A PAIR OF LINES IN SAID COMPARTMENT FOR SUPPLYING A RELATIVELY LOW VOLTAGE TO SAID ALARM, NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH MEANS IN ONE OF SAID LINES IN SAID COMPARTMENT, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID CONNECTION MEANS AND SWITCH MEANS FOR CAUSING THE SWITCH MEANS TO CLOSE AND OPERATE SAID ALARM UPON A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF SAID RISING MOVEMENT OF SAID SENSING MEANS. 